NZ must reaffirm its nuclear-free stance now

Monday, 13 July 2026

Kate Dewes speaking at New Brighton pier in January 2021, at an event to mark the coming into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Donna Miles has lauded the anti-nuclear stance of Dewes and her husband, Robert Green, who established the Disarmament and Security Centre in Christchurch. (File photo)

Donna Miles is an Iranian-Kiwi columnist and writer based in Christchurch, and a regular opinion contributor.

OPINION: In April 2024, while attending a pro-Palestinian protest in London, I met Jeremy Corbyn, the former UK Labour leader known for his longstanding advocacy for peace, justice and disarmament.

Excited to meet him, I asked him on video if he had a message for people back home in New Zealand. He started by acknowledging the solidarity Kiwis had shown to the victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks.

He then thanked Kiwis “for winning the idea of a nuclear-free New Zealand all those years ago”, adding that the win “made a massive difference” and gave a “huge boost” to all peace campaigners around the world. He especially mentioned two names: “Rob and Kate” and sent them his love and respect.

At the time, I felt a bit awkward because I didn’t know who Rob and Kate were. A quick look online showed they were Robert Green, a retired British Navy commander who used to train for nuclear missions, and his wife Dr Kate Dewes, a tireless peace activist. Together, they set up the Disarmament and Security Centre in Christchurch and worked hard on global campaigns, including efforts at the World Court. Their push helped make New Zealand’s nuclear-free stand something the whole world noticed.

Robert Green and Kate Dewes in 2021 (File photo).

Fast forward to April 2026 when I received an invitation from the Canterbury Socialist Society to talk about the situation in Iran. The event was held at a community room in Linwood Pool on short notice. I expected a small group but the room was nearly full. Lots of familiar faces were there, but one man sitting in the front row stood out. He looked important and took careful notes.

I told myself to watch my words to ensure nothing could be misconstrued – maybe he was a reporter or even an intelligence officer. Later I received an email from the same man. It turned out he was Rob Green. He wanted to give me his book after hearing me say that, even though I’ve always been against nuclear weapons, I’d started wondering if the US and Israel would have dared to launch an illegal war against Iran if it had nukes, the way they never dared attack North Korea.

Rob kindly gave me a copy of his book, Security Without Nuclear Deterrence. The book changed how I saw things. Rob uses his own navy experience to show that nuclear deterrence doesn’t really work. It’s risky, against international rules, and morally wrong. North Korea isn’t a good example – its safety comes more from its army, tough land, ties with China, and tight control at home than from bombs.

Look at Pakistan and India: both have nukes, but it has not stopped them from attacking each other over the disputed Kashmir. Nukes didn’t stop Saddam from attacking nuclear-armed Israel or Iran from striking it back during the recent two wars.

As Rob says in his TEDx talk, nuclear weapons are an irresponsible hoax, as well as an indiscriminate and repulsive terror device that is hugely beneficial for the corporate arms industry whilst threatening the survival of humanity.

Kate Dewes rings the World Peace Bell located in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in 2017, prior to a procession to the Canterbury Museum to mark 30 years since the signing of NZ's anti-nuclear legislation.

These thoughts hit home with what’s happening in our region right now. A few days ago, China fired a nuclear-capable missile into the South Pacific. It happened on the same day Australia’s Prime Minister was in Fiji signing new defence deals.

Pacific leaders pushed back hard. Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister asked China to stop these tests in our waters and made it clear the request went to everyone – the US, France, Britain, Japan, all of them. He said if you respect Pacific people, respect our ocean and don’t use it for weapons trials that stir up trouble. The Solomon Islands’ leader called it unfriendly and sent protests, while stressing the rule should apply to all nations.

Pacific Council of Churches general secretary Reverend James Bhagwan reminded everyone that the US regularly fires its own test missiles into the Marshall Islands. The Pacific has seen more than 300 nuclear explosions in the past – the most anywhere. Islanders are fed up with being treated as a testing ground. On top of that, the new US ambassador to New Zealand is pressing us to drop our ban on nuclear ships. It feels like our long-held anti-nuclear position is under pressure as big powers compete more fiercely for power and resource control.

New Zealand’s nuclear-free law from 1987 still earns respect around the world. It showed a small country could stand up for what’s right and say no to superpowers. But we can’t take it for granted now. Pacific nations need to firmly protect their nuclear-free waters from any country’s posturing for power. New Zealand should lead again, stick to its nuclear-free stance, and push for oceans that stay peaceful through talk and cooperation, not military threats.